Toe protector attachment



March 31, 1964 s. BOWN ETAL TOE PROTECTOR ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 4, 1963 HTTOENEYS United States Patent 3,126,651 TOE PROTETOR ATTACHMENT Samuel Bown, 5900 Annex Court, Ferguson 35, Mo., and William F. Eicks, 2822 E St., La Porte, Tex. Filed Feb. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 255,814 2 Claims. (CI. 36-72) The present invention relates generally to protective devices for the foot, and more particularly to a novel protector attachment for the toe part of a shoe.

Many toe protector attachments have been devised, but in the applicants experiences, none have been fully satisfactory, being deficient in fit, protection capacity, adaptability to shoe sizes and styles, or other feature.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a toe protector attachment which overcomes the deficiencies in the toe protector attachments heretofore available.

In brief, the present novel toe protector attachment includes a sturdy cap member split longitudinally for a predetermined distance for firm fit on toes of a range of widths, a resilient bottom member secured to the opposed lower edges of the cap member for engagement with the sole of a shoe insuring a firm fit on toes of a range of depths, a split protector lug secured to the top of the cap at the rear thereof, and a strap for holding the toe protector attachment in position on the toe of a shoe.

Hence, another object is to provide a novel toe protector attachment which is adapted to fit a range of shoe toe sizes both laterally and vertically.

Another object is to provide a novel toe protector attachment which is formed to yield laterally for a major portion thereof under a return bias to efiect firm fit on the toe of a shoe.

Another object is to provide a noveltoe protector attachment which is formed with a bottom construction having resiliency to permit operative engagement with shoe toes of a predetermined range of depths.

Another object is to provide a novel toe protector attachment which is formed with top reinforcing means which aids in deflecting a rotary lawn mower blade.

Another object is to provide a novel toe protector attachment which is formed to give maximum protection to a predetermined range of shoe sizes, which can be readily applied and removed, which remains firmly in operative position with minimum discomfort to a wearer, which is sturdy, long lasting and economical, and which otherwise fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a mans shoe with a toe protector attachment incorporating the concepts of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the other side thereof, a portion of the toe protector attachment being broken away and in section for illustration of details;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a toe protector attachment on a scale larger than that of FIGURES 1 and 2, the straps being broken away for conservation of space;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view thereof; and

3,126,651 Patented Mar. 31, 1964 FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, 10 indicates generally a toe protector attachment made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, which includes a cap member 12 formed as illustrated, a resilient bottom member 14 secured by rivets 16, or the like, to opposed lower edges of the cap member 12, and a mounting strap 18 pivotally connected to the cap member 12 by rivets 20.

The cap member 12 is made preferably of resilient metal, or other strong suitable springy material, and is split at 22 centrally longitudinally from the rear forwardly for a major portion thereof. The split 22 permits the cap member 12 to separate a little in being mounted on shoe toes wider than the cap member 12 up to predetermined widths, the springy material effecting a clamping action on shoe toes wider than the cap member 12. Reinforcing protective lugs 24 are welded or otherwise secured to the rear top of the cap member 12, as shown, or formed integral therewith.

The resilient bottom member 14 aids in maintaining the cap member 12 on a shoe toe when the shoe toe is of greater depth than the cap member 12 through the resilient reaction thereof.

The strap 18 illustrated is of conventional construction, being of two pieces and including a buckle 26. A single strong resilient strap may be used, if desired.

In FIGURES l and 2, the toe protector attachment is shown mounted on the toe of a mans shoe 28. Since the toe of the shoe 28 is a little deeper than the cap member 12, a snug engagement of the latter obtains.

It is clear that the toe protector attachment 10 shown and described fulfills the objects and advantages sought.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What we claim is:

1. In combination, a toe protector attachment for the toe cap of a shoe comprising a cap member of hard, resilient material adapted to resist and deflect the blow of the rotary blade of a lawnmower, said cap member being formed to cover the top cap of a shoe, said cap member being split from the rear edge forwardly for a distance greater than halfway from the rear edge to the front edge, the edges of said split being in opposed relation, said split permitting said cap member to snugly engage a range of sizes of shoes wider than said cap member, the edges of said split being moved apart as said toe protector is forced onto toe caps of larger sizes, said split thereby providing a gap which widens as a V as the cap member is forced onto toe caps of greater width than the cap member.

2. In combination, a toe protector attachment for the toe cap of a shoe comprising a cap member of hard, resilient material adapted to resist and deflect the blow of the rotary blade of a lawnmower, said cap member being formed to cover the toe cap of a shoe, said cap member being split from the rear edge forwardly for a distance greater than halfway from the rear edge to the front edge, the edges of said split being in opposed relation, said split permitting said cap member to snugly engage a range of sizes of shoes wider than said cap member, the edges of said split being moved apart as said toe protector is forced onto toe caps of larger sizes, said split thereby providing a gap which widens as a V as the cap member is forced onto toe caps of greater width than the cap member, and a resilient stretchable bottom member secured to the lower edges of said cap References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,552,700 Watts May 15, 1951 2,881,539 Dysart Apr. 14, 1959 2,927,384 Duffy Mar. 8, 1960 3,037,304 Duffy June 5, 1962 

1. IN COMBINATION, A TOE PROTECTOR ATTACHMENT FOR THE TOE CAP OF A SHOE COMPRISING A CAP MEMBER OF HARD, RESILIENT MATERIAL ADAPTED TO RESIST AND DEFLECT THE BLOW OF THE ROTARY BLADE OF A LAWNMOWER, SAID CAP MEMBER BEING FORMED TO COVER THE TOP CAP OF A SHOE, SAID CAP MEMBER BEING SPLIT FROM THE REAR EDGE FORWARDLY FOR A DISTANCE GREATER THAN HALFWAY FROM THE REAR EDGE TO THE FRONT EDGE, THE EDGES OF SAID SPLIT BEING IN OPPOSED RELATION, SAID SPLIT PERMITTING SAID CAP MEMBER TO SNUGLY ENGAGE A RANGE OF SIZES OF SHOES WIDER THAN SAID CAP MEMBER, THE EDGES OF SAID SPLIT BEING MOVED APART AS SAID TOE PROTECTOR IS FORCED ONTO TOE CAPS OF LARGER SIZES, SAID SPLIT THEREBY PROVIDING A GAP WHICH WIDENS AS A V AS THE CAP MEMBER IS FORCED ONTO TOE CAPS OF GREATER WIDTH THAN THE CAP MEMBER. 